“All rise. U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Boulder is now in session,” the bailiff announced as Judge Patricia Preston entered the courtroom and took her seat behind the bench. She looked to be in her fifties, with steel-gray hair and reading glasses on a chain. April settled in to wait for their case to come up on the docket.
Eventually, the case was called. April and Gabriela approached the defendant’s table. Vince and his lawyer took their places. Vince continued to put on his charming act, though he kept looking back at the public seating area until he spotted Shane.
Yeah, take a good look at my fiancé. If you try anything, his is the last face you’ll ever see.
"We're here today regarding the petition of Vincent Romano for emergency custody hearing in the matter of—" The judge glanced at her docket. "Kevin Taylor, minor child, age eight."
Vince's lawyer stood. Marc Brennan, according to Gabriela.
"Your Honor, if I may address the court."
Judge Preston waved a hand. "Go ahead, Mr. Brennan."
"Thank you, Your Honor. My client, Mr. Romano, only recently discovered he had a son. For eight years, he was denied the fundamental right to know his own child. Ms. Taylor disappeared from their shared home in Las Vegas without a trace after learning of her pregnancy.” He paused and grinned. “After living under a false identity for nearly a decade."
April's hands clenched in her lap. Gabriela put a steadying hand on her arm.
"We have to ask," Brennan continued, his voice dripping with false concern, "what else Ms. Taylor might be hiding. What crimes she may have committed during those missing years. What kind of environment she's providing for this child. A woman who would deprive a father of his son, who would go to such lengths to remain hidden—can we trust her judgment? Can we trust her fitness as a parent?"
"Your Honor—" Gabriela started to stand. “My client has been working at her family business in Colorado for close to nine years. That’s been documented. While Mr. Romano was serving time in prison for various charges including?—”
“Your Honor, I was not finished with my?—”
Judge Preston held up a hand. "Ms. Vasquez, Mr. Brennan, I'll stop you both right there. This is an emergency custody hearing, not opening arguments for a trial." The judge's voice was sharp. "And you're making some very serious allegations without presenting any evidence to support them, Mr. Brennan. False identity? Crimes? Do you have proof, or are you just throwing mud?"
"Your Honor, the pattern of behavior suggests?—"
"Suggests nothing without evidence." Judge Preston looked from Brennan to April to Gabriela. "I think we need to discuss this in chambers before we proceed. There are too many irregularities here, and I want to hear from both parties without the theatrics." She stood. "We'll start with the defense. Ms. Taylor, Ms. Vasquez, please join me."
April's heart was hammering. Gabriela squeezed her arm and whispered, "This is good. She's on our side."
Shane caught April's eye as she stood. His expression said he didn't like this—didn't like her being out of his sight, didn't like any of it. But he nodded.
April followed Gabriela and the bailiff through the door behind the judge's bench. The chambers beyond were exactly what she'd expected—floor-to-ceiling law books, a heavy desk, framed diplomas, and photos of what looked like Judge Preston’s grandchildren.
Judge Preston gestured to the chairs in front of her desk. "Please, sit."
April sat. Her knee was bouncing. She forced it to stop.
"Ms. Taylor." The judge's voice was gentler now, away from the courtroom theatrics. "I've read the filings. I know Mr. Romano served time for fraud and financial crimes. I know he also wasn't listed on the birth certificate. What I want to hear from you is why.Ishe the father, or should we stop right here?"
April took a breath. "He is, Your Honor, but only because he ‘donated’ his genetic material.” April felt her cheeks flush. “He’s not Kevin’s dad and never will be. The day I told him I was pregnant, he told me to get rid of it. When I refused, he—" Her voice caught. "He hurt me. He hit me. Kicked me on the floor, hoping to cause a miscarriage. And I knew if I stayed, he'd keep hurting me. Hurt the baby."
"Did you report the abuse?"
"No, Your Honor."
"Why not?"
"I was terrified. He had connections. Money. By sheer luck, he was arrested, and I saw my chance. I just wanted to get away before—" April's hands twisted together. "Before he killed me and my baby."
Judge Preston was quiet for a moment, studying April's face. "And in the nine, almost ten years since, Mr. Romano never attempted to contact you? Never tried to find his child?"
"He was in prison for most of that time. And I don't think he cared. He didn't want Kevin then. I don't know why he wants him now, except maybe to get revenge on me."
The judge opened her mouth to respond when the fire alarm started blaring.
The sound was deafening—a piercing shriek that made April's ears ring. She stood, her heart racing for entirely different reasons now. Fire? Here?
